Trouser waist grip



Dec. 24, 1946. GR|$ANT| 2,413,180

TROUSER WAIST GRIP Filed NOV. l5, 1945 4 .z 2 I F 5.1. Al HIM Mi y |l||I INVE.'NTOR AMEDEO D. GRISANTI ATTORNEY.

patented Dec. 24, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TROUSER WAIST GRIP Amedeo D. Grisanti, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application November 15, 1945, Serial No. 628,718

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a trouser waist grip.

More specifically, the present invention proposes the construction of a trouser waist grip for supporting a pair of trousers, taking the place of the usual belt or suspenders, the trouser waist grip bein attached to the inside of the trousers.

Still further, it is proposed to provide a trouser waist grip as aforesaid having two members, one

being a flexible strap sewed to the pair of trousers or otherwise attached thereto, and the other being an elastic strap secured to the flexible strap by suitable means, such as by snap fasteners, buckles or a combination of the two.

Another object is to provide a trouser waist grip as aforesaid in which the elastic strap is shorter than the other strap.

Another object is to provide a trouser waist grip as aforesaid in which the two straps are fixedly secured at one end and at the middle, and adjustably secured at the other end.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Y In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pair of trousers with the device of the present invention attached.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device.

Fig. .3 is a rear view of one strap.

Fig. 4 is a front View of the other strap.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the device.

Trousers of conventional design, no matter how well fitted and tailored, are subject to cause discomforture due to the fact that the usual means of support, namely, the belt or suspenders, are inadequate to meet the normal expansion and contraction conditions to which the human waistline is subjected. Waist measurements have never been dependable at any time. Furthermore a persons waistline can expand from 1 to 2% inches from standing position to sitting position. Belts keep trousers up in a balanced condition but have no flexibility or elasticity to take care of the expansion of the waistline, and to tighten a belt sufficiently to hold a pair of trousers in the correct high position is not advisable for health conditions. Furthermore a tight belt causes fullness around the trouser waist band that spoils the appearance of the smooth well fitted trousers.

Suspenders are better than belts from a health standpoint, but never support a pair of trousers in true balance. Suspenders cause an uncomfortable pull from the knee cap to the lower part of the seat when a person is walking, resulting in the trouser legs flapping and spoiling the ap pearance of the trousers.

The trouser waist grip of the present invention supports trousers comfortably whether the person is sitting, standing or walking. It holds the trousers up attractively without bunching or unbalance.

The trouser waist grip, according to the present invention, is used at both sides of a pair of trousers I 0. In the following description, only one will be described in relation to one side of the trousers, it being understood that the other is similar but reversely directed.

The trouser Waist grip is indicated generally by the reference numeral II. It includes two straps l2 and I3, strap l2 being the outer strap or that one which is secured to the trousers and strap l3 being the inner strap or that one which is adjacent the persons skin. Strap I2 is made of flexible material such as cloth and has two male snap fastener parts M at one end, a male snap fastener part l5 substantially at its middle, and a buckle I6 at its other end. The buckle I6 is of the well known type adapted to grip a strap at any place along its length on which the buckle I6 is closed.

The strap I3 has an elastic body I! with a fabric covering l-B at one end and a fabric covering I 9 at its other end. The body and coverings are sewed together. The covering 18 is folded over one end of the body. The covering I9 is folded over the other end of the body in a fashion to provide a point 20 for guiding the strap t3 into the buckle Hi. The sewing of these parts is ample to provide strength. Two female snap fastener parts 2| are secured in the covering I8 and adjacent part of the body, and a female snap fastener part 22 is secured to the body substantially at the center thereof. If desired, buckles may be used at both ends of the strap 12, or snap fasteners may be used at both ends.

The strap I2 is one and one half inches longer than the strap [3 so that when the strap I3 is in normal position there is looseness between the middle snap fastener and the snap fasteners at one end and also between the middle snap fastener and the buckle at the other end; The one and one half inches being one inch on one side of the center snap and one half inch on the other side. That is to say, the buckle, if it is clamped on the strap l 3, no matter how near the end, must leave slack material on the strap l2.

Strap I2 is sewed to the trousers at the inside thereof so that the center snap I5 is at the side seam 23 of the trousers. The strap 12 may be disposed below the trouser waist band 24 any short amount depending on how high it is desired to wear the trousers. If the trousers are cut with low rise meaning hip fitting trousers, the strap I2 can be attached of an inch from the top edge of the waist band 24. For trousers of medium height, the amount may be one inch.

In the case of English high waist pleated trousers,

the amount should be from one and one half to one and three quarters inches.

Because of the importance of the center snap of the device, it is necessary for the center snap to meet the side seam of the trousers and also to be placed at the right position over the hip bone in order to preserve the balance of the device and of the trousers. The amount cannot be the same in the front and in the back. If the amount of the space between strap i2 and the edge of waist band 24 at the center snap is of an inch, it would be an inch at the front and one inch at the back because the trousers are cut higher in the back than in the front. The strap i2 is not run parallel with the band 24 in order to preserve the balance of both the device and trousers. When strap i3 is securedto strap i2, the elastic can stretch and the non-elastic cloth at the ends gives strength and insures even stretching of the elastic. The distance between the two snap fasteners 21 is A; of an inch. The strap i3 is provided with a row of dots 25 which serve as a scale for adjustment of the buckle it. Since the strap i3 is one and one half inches shorter than strap l2, the straps 13 when fastened to the trousers reduce the inside measurement of the trousers by three inches.

I wish to point out one important fact. My invention is not merely valuable to hold trousers up and in balance. It is also of value to eliminate the yearly loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in money and labor and to alleviate the acute shortage of tailors throughout the country. Statistics show, in ready-to-wear clothing stores, that the taking in of trousers in the waist amounts to from 60-75% of the labor of alteration. This is a tremendous loss financially and a waste of labor. Trousers with the device of the present invention, when worn by the average person, will fit Well although from one to three inches too large in the waist when the device is removed. Thus the same size waist in trousers can be made to fit quite a few different size persons because of the waist grip device.

Three inche oversize in the trousers is the limit and perhaps many individuals would object to have a drapery fold over the hip and sidepocket of this amount, but up to two inches would not be objectionable to anyone. The importance of the center snap fastener is to keep this surplus of material from running to the front of the trousers when worn by a person. The center snap also prevents sagging of the sides of the trousers especially where the person wearing the trousers wishes to keep his hands in his side pockets.

The device of the present invention also does away with the undesirable characteristic of trousers that are taken in conventionally from one and one half inches to three inches that creates a sagging length in the lower part of the seat and a bagging effect in the front of the trousers, ruining the balance and appearance of the trousers.

With the device of the present invention the wearer can wear trousers one or two inches too large in the waist when he is standing, this size being just right when he is sitting or after a full meal. The elastic of strap l3 permits its expansion with expansion of the body of the person. When the trousers are sent to the presser or dry cleaner, strap [3 can be removed, thereby preserving the elastic.

The trouser waist grip will be graded scientifically for all sizes of trousers, including childrens and riding breeches. It can also be used for ladies skirts. If snap fasteners and buckles are not available, buttons can be substituted therefor. In any event, the center fastening i imperative.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desir to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A waist grip adapted to be fastened to the inside of a pair of trousers at one side thereof to adjustably alter the waist thereof comprising a flexible strap adapted to be fastened to said trousers inside, an elastic strap superposed on said flexible strap, detachable fastening means connecting said straps substantially at the middle thereof, detachable fastening means connecting said straps at one end thereof, and detachable fastening means adjustably connecting said straps at the other end thereof, said elastic strap being shorter than said flexible strap, said flexible strap having more of its length between said middle means and said adjustable means than between said middle means and the other of said fastening means.

2. A waist grip for altering the waist of a pair of trousers comprising a flexible non-elastic strap, a shorter elastic strap superposed thereon, flexible non-elastic reinforcement secured to each of the ends of said elastic strap, detachable means connecting said straps at their middle, detachable means connecting one reinforced end of said elastic strap to said non-elastic strap at its cor responding end, and adjustable means connecting the other reinforced end of said elastic-strap to said non-elastic stra at its other end, the portion of said non-elastic strap between said middle means and said adjustable means being greater than the portion of said non-elastic strap between said middle means and the other of said detachable means.

3. A waist grip for altering the waist of a pair of trousers comprising a non-elastic flexible strap, an elastic strap superposed thereon, a snap fastener connecting said elastic strap at its middle to said non-elastic strap, two spaced snap fasteners connecting said elastic strap at one end to one end of said non-elastic strap, and a buckle connecting said elastic strap at its other end to the other end of said non-elastic strap, said non-elastic strap being longer than said elastic strap and having the surplus of its material divided on opposite sides of said middle fastener.

4. A waist grip for altering the waist of a pair of trousers comprising a non-elastic flexible strap,

an elastic strap superposed thereon, a snap fastener connecting said elastic strap at its middle to said non-elastic strap, two spaced snap fasteners connecting said elastic strap at one end to one end of said non-elastic strap, and a buckle connecting said elastic strap at its other end to the other end of said non-elastic strap, said non-elastic strap being longer than said elastic strap and having, the surplus of its material divided on opposite sides of said middle fastener, with more of its surplus material on the side adjacent said buckle than on the side adjacent said two spaced fasteners.

5. A Waist grip for altering the waist of a pair of trousers comprising a non-elastic flexible strap, an elastic strap superposed thereon, a snap fastener connecting said elastic strap at its middle to said non-elastic strap, two spaced snap fasteners connecting said elastic strap at one end to one end of said non-elastic strap, and a buckle connecting said elastic strap at its other end to the other end of said non-elastic strap, said non-elastic strap being longer than said elastic strap and having the surplus of its material divided on opposite sides of said middle fastener,

with more of its surplus material on th side adjacent said buckle than on the side adjacent said two spaced fasteners, said elastic strap having non-elastic reinforcements at its ends.

6. A waist grip for altering the waist of a pair of trousers comprising a non-elastic flexible strap, an elastic strap superposed thereon, a snap fastener connecting said elastic strap at its middle to said non-elastic strap, two spaced snap fasteners connecting said elastic strap at one end to one end of said non-elastic strap, and a buckle cennecting said elastic strap at its other end to the other end of said non-elastic strap, said non-elastic strap being longer than said elastic strap and having the surplus of its material divided on opposite sides of said middle fastener, with more of its surplus material on the side adjacent said buckle than on the side adjacent said two spaced fasteners, said elastic strap having non-elastic reinforcements at its end and a row of marks at its buckle receiving end for indicating adjustments of said buckle.

AMEDEO D. GRISANTI. 

